Mills Middle School

MMS Comet Nation is joining a number of schools, districts, cities, counties and states around the country in celebrating "AVID DAY" today, September 12, 2025!

In a press release heralding this special day, the AVID Center shares that "AVID Day honors the incredible impact of educators, students, and communities working together to ensure all students are prepared for college, careers, and beyond. This year, we also celebrate a 45-year legacy of belief in every student’s potential."

We are proud to consider ourselves an AVID school committed to meeting the personalized academic and social needs of all of our scholars and to prepare them for success!

Happy AVID Day!

#thebestisyettocome
#avid
#avid4college
#myAVIDwhy
#millsmiddleschoolcomets
#pcssdproud

We are proud to celebrate Chef Appreciation Week, a time to honor the chefs who bring passion, creativity, and care to every meal they prepare for our students. At PCSSD, we have a pair of chefs who transform food into celebration, comfort, connection, and community – Chartwells' Executive Chef King Joseph and Chef Sarah Montgomery, who prepare meals in our cafés & caterings for district staff; help train our kitchen staffs; conduct in-café programs with our students; and so much more. Thank you, Chef King & Chef Sarah, for all you do for the students of PCSSD!

Tomorrow, PCSSD students and staff—let’s turn the hallways into a runway of college and career readiness! Every shirt you wear tells your story of where you've been or where you want to be.
🎓 Rock your favorite college tee
💼 Suit up in your dream-job attire
📸 Snap a pic & tag us

What is AVID?
PCSSD is implementing AVID in every grade level at all elementary, middle and high schools across the district. Our AVID teams are eagerly promoting this system which increases student engagement, promotes classroom collaboration and activates deeper levels of learning in their classrooms with practical, immediately useful tools and instructional strategies. Teachers who participate in AVID professional learning begin to shift their beliefs about teaching and learning, allowing them to cultivate a growth mindset both for themselves and their students.

AVID Mission Statement

AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

AVID for Elementary Schools

Putting future leaders on an early path to success in school

AVID Elementary engages young learners and provides them with the critical skills to become confident, independent thinkers who have a thirst for learning. Teachers use AVID strategies to provide students with:

• Proven ways to succeed in school

• Writing to learn, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading to learn

• Note-taking and time management skills

• Best ways to work together inside and outside of the classroom

AVID for Secondary Schools

Moving future leaders toward college success and beyond

AVID’s teaching strategies and curriculum build positive teacher-student relationships to ensure student success schoolwide. AVID Elective students:

• Proven ways to succeed in school

• Enroll in advanced courses (AP®)

• Receive academic instruction and tutorial support

• Strengthen their writing skills

• Improve study and organization skills

• Gain “college knowledge”

• Visit colleges and explore careers

The AVID Advantage

• Reduces variation in classroom instruction.

• Leverages grit and determination of students.

• Emphasizes rigorous coursework, relevance of instruction and relationships.

• Raises expectations of educators, students and their families.

• Re-energizes the staff on campus and in the district.

🚀 Our incredible volunteers gave over 10,000 hours of their time to students last school year, and they’re ready to level up for 2025-2026!

📚 Today, ladies from the UAPB Alumni Association kicked off a monthly Book Club with our third graders at College Station and Harris Elementaries. Kids also had a friend scavenger hunt where they had to get signatures from the other school's scholars.

💖 Want in on the fun? Become a PCSSD volunteer and help spark young minds. Sign up here: https://securevolunteer.com/Pulaski-County-Special-School-District/home

🔒 Safety first: Anyone who wishes to volunteer at a PCSSD school must first complete a volunteer application. This includes a background check conducted online at no cost to the volunteer.
#PCSSDproud #ServeAll #CSESonFire #PantherProud #BetterTogether

Not sure what to wear tomorrow? Pick a college or career shirt to join in on AVID Wednesday! What is AVID? AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society. #PCSSDproud #ServeAll
👕 Rock your dream school tee
🩺 Don your future-career shirt
📸 Strike a pose & tag us in your pic

We can't wait to see you today!

The following is a gentle reminder:

Scholars who did not attend orientation on Saturday to receive their class schedule will need to report to the Auxiliary Cafeteria to pick it up.

Please note the following requirements for all scholars:

ID, Lanyard, Locker, and Badge Holder – The district fee for these items is $20.00.

Athletic Locker – Scholars participating in sports will need to pay an additional $6.00 for an athletic locker to secure personal items during practices and games.

Backpacks – Only clear or mesh backpacks are allowed.

Handbags – Handbags must meet the approved size limit; large handbags will not be permitted this school year.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring a smooth start to the school year.